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Paying Your Dues

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with EXIT Realty Corp. USA

I often hear agents from every brand discussing the ongoing expense of being a Realtor. Typically, those affiliated with a brand are frustrated with the cost of their franchise fees and their annual dues, depending on their brand and structure, and it seems the frustration comes around the same time every year. Annual dues for some companies are due at the first of the year; others like EXIT Realty, are due on June 30th which is also the same time as NAR dues and your state/local dues. At a time when expenses are being examined more than ever, the cost of being a Realtor weighs heavily on many minds.

 

Dues time also forces an industry-cleansing action, that is unfortunate but necessary to keep the balance of professionals in our industry. Instead of brokers keeping standards high and helping non-productive agents quit, they wait for the dues to force them to leave, which is wrong. There are other options such as holding companies where you can park your license and refer business to a team member which is a good solution. We all have our opinion on what is considered a full-time and what is part-time agent, but it boils down to commitment to our profession and cost vs. benefit. I have covered the investment to be considered a full-time Realtor before, but this time it is important to focus on the topic of this article..."paying your dues".

 

We have all heard it before, "what do I get for the dues I pay". My feeling has always been that price is only an issue in the absence of value. You have to believe in the value you receive for the price you pay. I would pay a million dollars to receive two million dollars, it's all relative. If you are affiliated with a brand, are you receiving the value you pay for in royalties and dues? Often it is a case of you not engaging or using the tools available, which is usually the case when it comes time to evaluate the cost benefit of paying your NAR, State and local dues. They provide tools, systems, support, lobbying and many other benefits that you may not use regularly or are not aware of. The bottom line, are you using what you are paying for to its fullest?

 

At EXIT, we work hard to ensure you get the value you pay for. We provide tools, systems, technology and support to help you succeed in your business, but the majority of agents are not fully engaged in what we offer. Corporate office passes down the information to the Region, the Region passes it to the Broker/Owner, and the Agent gets it from there. Along with webinars, chat rooms, websites, conference calls and countless other methods, we push our support along the line to ensure our agents feel connected; it's their responsibility to embrace and utilize what is shared. As we get ready to pay our dues for the year, please remember to ask yourself if you are doing everything that YOU can and should to receive and use the information that is being shared with you for YOUR success.

Make it a great month!

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